Since start of Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkish military has so far destroyed over 1,700 ISIL targets

World Bulletin / News Desk

One soldier has been martyred and three others injured in the northern Syrian town of al Rai by ISIL extremists during Turkey’s ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield, according to military sources.

According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, clashes occurred between Free Syrian Army, Turkish soldiers, and ISIL on Monday. At least 18 ISIL extremists were killed and one Turkish soldier was martyred in the Ziyara residential area, located in eastern al Rai, which is controlled by the Free Syrian Army.

The Turkish General Staff also hit 75 ISIL targets with 221 rounds of Firtina (storm) howitzer fire, 14 military tanks, and 40 rounds of multiple rocket launchers, the sources added.

-Air operations

According to the Turkish Air Forces, on Monday six ISIL targets located in Dabiq, Rasm al Wardm, and Aktarim were bombarded by Turkish jets.

In addition, army forces carried out nine airstrikes separately in the Turkmen Bari, Ziyara, Titanah, and Aktarin regions, killing five ISIL extremists and destroying five buildings.

A total of 1,875 ISIL targets have been destroyed by over 7,100 rounds of artillery and rocket fire since the start of the operation in late August.

To date, a total of 115 residential areas in 980 square kilometers (380 square miles) of northern Syria have so far been cleared of ISIL extremists.

The operation is in line with the country’s right to self-defense borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to Turkey’s armed forces by its parliament in 2014, which was extended for another year in September 2015.